Labor group Partido Manggagawa on Wednesday urged the government to adopt a "shorter work day," instead of the proposed four-day work week.

"Legislating the compressed workweek will lead to the derogation if not destruction of the historic eight-hour work day. Instead of lengthening the working day, it should be shortened without lost pay of workers," PM National Chair Rene Magtubo said in a statement.

However, he did not elaborate on the group's proposal for a "shorter work day."

"The compressed work week will lead to health and safety issues while shortening the working day will vastly improve work-life balance," Magtubo added.

Late last month, the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading House Bill No. 6152 which would increase the normal work hours per day, but compress them to four working days as long as they meet the 48 working hours mandated by law.

"Imagine workers laboring for 12 hours a day without overtime and traveling hours more through traffic. This is a recipe for killing workers through overwork and stress," Magtubo said.

In the same statement, Magtubo said the proposed measure is only a "ploy to cheapen salaries, similar to the regionalization of wages."

"Millions of workers already work 12 hours [a] day because they avail of overtime as a way of augmenting their meager daily wages which are not enough to sustain their families," he said.

"The compressed work week will legalize this epidemic of overwork but worsen it by taking away overtime pay," he added.

Under the bill, employees may perform their work beyond eight hours a day or 48 hours a week provided that the employee is paid for the overtime work an additional compensation equivalent to the regular wage plus at least 25 percent thereof.

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It is commonplace in journalism to write two types of articles at the transition point between the year that has passed and the New Year. As this writer qualifies as an “old hand” in observing Thailand with a track record dating back 14 years, it is time take a shot at what may unfold in Thailand in 2011.

The first issue that can’t be answered is the health of Thailand’s beloved King Bhumibol, who is now 83 years old. He is the world's longest reigning monarch, but elaborate birthday celebrations in December failed to mask concern over his health. More

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